St. Landry democrat., 1887-08-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

bonds and 4o(o bonds and also Pacific
railroad bonds, with rebate of 2oIo
per annum on the amount prepaid
Explanatory of this action Secretary
Fairchild says Ire thought it the best
thing he could do under the circum-
stances, his purchase of bonds being for
the purpose of providing for the sink
ing funds and the anticipation of in
terest is for the purpose of removing
the surplus. The interest referred to
10 the order amounts to S22,319,7S4 and
the sinking fund to about S26,000000
added to the S20,000,000 of 1910 bonds
previously applied TO that fund. The
Secretary says that the surplus can
only be disposed of through the CO.
operation of the bondholders, and that
if they do not accept the terms of his
offer to them, 1t would appear that they
are not greatly in need of money.
The Controller of the Currency has
given notice to the national banks re-
curing them to submit to him IA full
statement of their affairs at the close
of business August 1st-in default of
whichFhey will be fined and the sums
paid into the United States Treasury
the purpose being to see whether these
institutions have their finances in
proper shape to meet any requirements
necessary in handling this years
crops.
During the month of July 1896
by the Democratic Administration,
which, according to Republican parti-
sans, has nothing but hatred and hostl-
lily to the Union Veterans.
The pension which was put through
by Forger Harver, as Attorney for a
widow. turns out, upon closer Invest1-
CATION to be a frautl-und thus neatly
$4,000 was, at the last moment saved to
the Government. The Pension office
offers a great field for fraudulent mani
pulations, but, the evil-doers almost
invariably come to grief; two men have
Just been arrested in West Virginia on
a charge of forgery in connection with
a pension case.
Public Printer Benedict's reply to the
New York Tribune's charge that he
Disseminated against Union soldiers
in making appointments or di>mlSSals
is clear and convincing to the last de-
gree, showing, as it does. that Mr..
Benedict is true and careful guardian
of the interests Of the soldiers. for, ac
cording to an actual census of the
office, taken by him, about one-haIf OF
its employees are either Union Eete-
rams or their widows and chlIdren-al
of whom are protected in their positions
by special Statute, but, which the
present Printers Republican predeces-
sors ignored when it applied to Demo
cratic Union soldiers-txamples thai
might we'll warrant retallations in kind
on his part-still, he has not done 500
but, impartially given, to all whom it
is due, the benefits of this class legis-
lation. Mr. Benedict has increased the
working capacity of the establishment,
although compelled to reduce the
force, and has won the lasting grail
tude of all the employees by paying
semi monthly, instead of monthly, aS
was the rule under the Republican
regime.
Secretary Lamar's request that the
heads of bureaus of the Interior De-
partmenl present their annual reports
much earlier than heretofore strongly
tends to confirm the general impress
sion that he will soon be transferred to
the Supreme Bench Mr.. Lamar would
adorn that lofty tribunal az few men in
America could, for, in addition to be-
ing the first among Southern States
men and jurists, his MUD is cast in
judicial mould. President Cleveland
says of him, that of all the men he has
ever met, he believes Secretary Lamar
to possess the clearest and most pro-
found intellect.
About twenty patent Attorneys Of
Washington who were the beneticlares
of BacoD's generosity with the public
funds have been notified that unless
they Immediately refund the sums Dor
rowed. some $50OO-it will be considered
cause for disbarring them from prac
tice before the Interior Department:
the bondsmen of the late financial
clerk have signifed their willingness
to pay his defalcation when it is certi
fed to properly.
The chief topic Of local interest is
the trial of naval surgeon Crawford for
leading astray schoolgirl of thirteen
and Madam Grundy is expecting sensa-
tional developments. The Judge has
decided an important and interesting
legal point-that the case can he tried
under the EJmonds Utah law-the
first of the kind on record here. |
think conviction rather doubtful, for
the reason that Que Of the Governments
principal witnesses has been spirited
away, the little correspondent is in
New York, but process has been issued
for haf